What’s going on... January 2010

---

Sunday Services

Sunday, January 3 – Rev. Fred Howard, “Resolutions: Life’s Little Extreme Makeovers”

The desire to start over and begin again is an almost universal yearning.  This New Year’s Sunday we will look at some spiritual ramifications of this foible of the human spirit and how it may actually play a more poignant part in our spiritual growth than we may want to admit.

INVITATION TO MEMBERSHIP If you are interested in becoming a member of our fellowship, we encourage you to talk with our minister, Rev. Fred Howard or our President, Doug Tanner or Membership Director, Mya Storey.  We welcome your questions, and we extend an open invitation to all who want to join our liberal community of faith.

 

During this service we will collect Guest at Your Table boxes.  See further information about this part of the service elsewhere in the newsletter.  Don’t Forget!

 

Sunday, January 10 – Dr. Michael Stoltzfus, “Confucianism and China’s One-child Policy”

We will explore some of the basic themes of Confucianism and apply those themes to China’s one-child policy in response to human overpopulation concerns.  Basic questions that will be addressed include:  What does it mean to be a morally mature human being from a Confucian perspective?  What are the Chinese cultural and religious factors that put a premium on sons?  Why does the language of individual rights and rights to privacy make little sense in Confucian worldviews? 

Sunday, January 17 – Rev. Fred Howard, “The Remarkable Theology of Martin Luther King, Jr.”

Dr. King’s framed the civil rights movement in theological language that has remarkable resonance with Unitarian values and principles.  Further exploration of his personal theology and his understanding of the accomplishment of Jesus can be useful for us as we seek to find more common ground with the Christian community.

Sunday, January 24 – Keith Johnson will explore Origen, a second century philosopher/theologian. Origen wrote about different ways to interpret the meaning and content of the old and new testament scriptural texts. His methods for interpreting scripture are relevant today, not only for the scriptures of religious traditions, but also for many forms of art and literature."

Sunday, January 31 –  Ana Garcia-Ashley, “The Gamaliel Foundation and Its Work”

Ana Garcia-Ashley is the Director of the Southern Territory of the Gamaliel Foundation and Director of ABLE, Gamaliel's affiliate in Atlanta, Georgia.  Born in the Dominican Republic, Ana graduated from the University of Colorado and attended the Ilif School of Theology.  Since 1981 Ana has worked as a community organizer and became a congregation-based leadership trainer.  Ana will speak about the Gamaliel Foundation (http://www.gamaliel.org/), the mission of which is to assist local community leaders to create, maintain and expand independent, grassroots, and powerful faith-based community organizations.

                More than 100 UU congregations participate in Congregation Based Community Organizing (CBCO).  According to the UU World (Feb 2007), "CBCO is a collection of faith communities, labor unions, schools, and other groups that use their collective power to bring about change."

                The Gamaliel Foundation is one of five national networks that provides leadership training for congregations to become involved in CBCO activities.  The UUA is currently offering matching grants to "increase the direct involvement of UUs in service, advocacy and/or community organizing to create justice in the larger community."  http://www.uua.org/giving/fundingprogram/102184.shtml   

                The Accepting Difference Project will be meeting with Ana during her visit to Valdosta.  If you would like more information, please contact Carol Stiles.

---

Religious Education

For Children: The RE program for children meets at. 10:45 AM concurrent with the Sunday morning service.  The children are studying what it means to be UU and learning more about our roots and history. Volunteers to help in the classroom are needed. Contacts: Mya Storey or Susan Bailey.

 

Church in the Woods Art Museum

The RE sponsored art museum at the church is now open!  It is an ongoing project and would like artwork from adults and children as well as donations of old picture frames. Please see Sue Bailey or Mya Storey for information or donations.  Visit the museum in the RE wing.

 Infants and Toddlers: Sue Bailey wants to be sure that new members or visitors know that infants and toddlers are welcome in the RE room during services.  They may be too little to participate, but we do have someone available to watch them so the parents can enjoy the service.

 

Adult Religious Education: We will resume adult religious education at 9:30 AM on Sunday, January 17.  The class will be facilitated by a team consisting of Fred Howard, Al Hunt, Valerie Webster, and Lars Leader.   The sessions will continue through May.

                Fred Howard has spent the past few weeks researching various potential texts for us to use in delving further into the nature of religious belief and religious experience.  He has found good aspects of several books, but none were really ideal for a survey type course into general approaches to religious thought and experience.  Readability was his highest criterion.   In Fred’s opinion, most books on the subject are either too elementary or a little too academic for the purpose. 

                He has finally decided to use “Teach Yourself Philosophy of Religion” by Mel Thompson for the first 10 weeks, and “Best Guide to Eastern Philosophy and Religion” by Diane Morgan for the last 9 weeks as the basic texts.  Where these texts are too unfocused or too dense, he plans to supplement these with handouts and suggested readings from other books, which he will try to make available to class participants. 

                Those who participate should gain a serviceable knowledge of the basic issues confronting humanity in its quest for meaning through religious belief.  Through selected readings and discussion, we will explore the following topics and the great debates of some of our best thinkers on these subjects:

• Critical Thinking, Reason, and Religious Belief
• The Nature of Religious Experience
• The Problem of Religious Language
• The Existence or Non-Existence of God
• Spirit, Soul, Self and Consciousness
• The Problem of Evil and Suffering
• The Challenges of Religious Pluralism

It is hoped that participants will gain a better understanding of the thought processes of others with dramatically different viewpoints to the timeless mysteries that confront us all.  Since our time together will be limited, we will strive to focus our discussion on two or three key features of each topic.

                It is Fred’s sense as he is now a few months into the process of getting to know all of us and beginning to assess how he, as our minister, can best guide the spiritual direction of our religious community, he feels that these topics will meet some broad needs that he has sensed.  Some of this material is new for him also, and he is very excited about the opportunity to explore it with everyone.  Please thoughtfully consider whether participation in this class would help meet a need in your life and allow you to be a part of our joint effort to encourage each other in our spiritual growth as we covenant to in our third principle.  We look forward to seeing you there. 

.

Fred Howard is our part time minister.  You may contact Rev. Howard by email (preferable) at fredhoward435@hotmail.com. He is available for consultations on Monday and Wednesday afternoons on most weeks from 2-5PM by appointment.  Fred welcomes any questions you may have about membership in our congregation.  He is also available for weddings and rites of passage ceremonies by prearrangement.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Decorating for the holidays last month.

---

MINISTERIAL MUUSINGS

Rev. Fred Howard                                      January 2010

                Paradigms do not always shift just because someone comes up with new names for old ways of doing things.  Organizational development/church growth consultants are great at repackaging old ideas with new names and selling them to us as the latest cutting edge dynamic for our congregations.  But one idea that I think has been around long enough to be considered a true innovation is the movement away from committees and toward ministry teams.

                Three things are vital to church growth.  Each person should feel that they have (1) a stake, (2) a voice, and (3) a sense of belonging in the community.  The old idea was you give new members a pledge card to meet #1, you put them on a committee to meet # 2, and you get them in a small group to meet #3.  What makes the ministry team concept unique is its effectiveness in rolling all these vital elements into one way of organizing congregational life.   Being a part of a ministry team enables members to deploy their gifts as an integral part of the regular activities of the community.  The idea is that we develop our talents, knowledge base, and commitment as we take part in implementing our own decisions as a part of the team.  That, as opposed to being assigned to a committee where we make a one time leap of commitment that may or may not engage us in being a part of the ongoing dynamics of congregational life.  In committees the commitment often feels like drudgery instead of feeling like a voice.  Rather than that experience (which I’m sure we’ve all had), being on a team more likely cultivates a sense of contributing and belonging.   That is often the experience when we are in a group with a common vision and a passion to translate that vision into reality.   Many of my own personal moments when I felt a special sense of community came about by being a part of a team working together to accomplish something we all were invested in.    

                The team approach has advantages both programmatically and relationally.  With a small congregation, programming ministries are difficult to get off the ground and then to maintain, because the burden often falls on one or sometimes two persons.  If a team approach is taken, more people share from their time and talents, and as we work together we learn more about each other – our gifts, graces, and limitations.  This knowledge is indispensable if we are to “encourage one another to spiritual growth,” as we covenant in our third principle.

                Some of the ministries in our congregation already function in much this way, though perhaps not intentionally.  My suggestion is in no way meant to disrupt or displace endeavors that are already up and succeeding at what they do.  This is merely a way for us to expand what we have to offer each other and the community.  With that in mind, we will be launching a new ministry team in January that will be serving our congregation by offering regular adult religious education.  I am quite excited about the prospects for this “new paradigm” in our ongoing process of building the beloved community.

---

 

Let’s Have Some Fun!!

 

Book Discussion and Potluck

Friday, January 29

At the church

Potluck: 6:00 PM – Discussion: 7:00 PM

The book is “The Life of Pi.” By Yann Martel.  A reader/reviewer on Amazon says:  “’Life of Pi’ is one of the most profound books I've ever read. It is a story [that] mirrors the path one must take on the Tree of Life. The name of the Japanese ship alone Tsimtsum is the clue to the adventure this young boy has as he reaches for adulthood and spiritual completeness. To begin this book requires courage....it is not like other books you have read; it is not about a culture you are familiar with. But in the end, it is about the search we all started at birth...the maneuvering of the different paths one faces throughout life.”  If you’ve already read this book, you know it is probably worth another read.

                Bring a dish to share.  Coffee and tea will be provided.  You are welcome to bring other beverages.  We’ll plan to wind up by around 8:00 PM if you have other end of the week commitments.   Come prepared to make suggestions for our next book which we will select at the end of our discussion.  We are selecting books which deal with different cultures, religions, and life styles.  Contact: Betty Derrick.

 

Games Night

Saturday, January 16, 7:00 PM at the church

Bring a snack to share, the kids and yourself, and your favorite game (maybe a new one you got for Christmas!) and be prepared to have a fun fellowshipping time!  Contact: Susan Bailey.

---

President’s Corner

Doug Tanner

The holiday season is here again and the church is looking very festive this year.  Whether you observe Christmas, Chanukah or the Solstice this time of year brings a special joy.  It’s also a special time to remember those invisible guests at your table and the good works conducted by the UUSC.

                I would like to thank everyone who contributed items for the holiday table.  It certainly presents a unique perspective and demonstrates our unique liberal faith and our appreciation of all forms of faith.  Take moment when you get a change to check it out.

                As usual the holidays are more than end of year celebrations.  As the wheel of life turns the end of one year is the beginning of a new and promising year.  It’s a good opportunity to contemplate the things we accomplished this year and rededicate ourselves to creating the beloved community.

I’ll see you all on Sunday.  

 

 Newsletter Information for Planning Ahead!  February/March combined newsletter: It will be necessary to publish the February and March newsletters as one joint newsletter.  All information for both months will have to be available no later than January 15.  Please make a note of this deviation from our usual schedule.  Also there will be little flexibility between the deadline date for providing information and the final copy date for the newsletter.   Apologies from your editor for having her schedule inconvenience yours.  By spring we should be able to get back to our usual due dates and a little more flexibility.  Thank you for working with me to keep our congregation informed.  MED

                

Newsletter Editor:  Betty Derrick Website:  Carol Stiles Local Publicity: Dee Tait Photography: Susan Bailey  January 15: Deadline for a combined February/March newsletter. (Please see further information elsewhere in this newsletter.)

Social Action Activities

 

Guest At Your Table

Sunday, January 3-Return Boxes

We’ll collect the Guest at Your Table boxes at the service on January 3.   Please write a check to the UUSC to cover the total amount you have collected in your box over the last month.  Please also fill out the information on the side of the box.  Thank you for your participation and generosity.  If you did not receive a box and would still like to participate there will be envelopes at the church for your use.  Betty Derrick is our Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) representative.  She will be sending our congregation’s donations to the UUSC along with a list of our members and friends who participated in this annual fund raising event.  Be generous and please consider joining UUSC.   The annual rates are:  Individual ($40.00); Dual ($75); Senior- 65+ ($20); Youth/Student ($10).  Note also that all individual and family unrestricted contributions of $100 or more are eligible to be matched dollar for dollar by the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock in Manhasset, NY.                                   

MLK March

For a number of years our congregation has participated in the local Martin Luther King march.  As the newsletter goes to press we are not certain of the date for this year’s march.  Watch for announcements in the order of service, on our website, and e-mails.  Plan to participate.  It will take a couple of hours of your time(usually the Saturday morning before MLK Day).  Given the issues under discussion in our community it is especially important that we participate this year.  

Accepting Difference Project

This project works to bring attention to and build diverse coalitions to address systemic problems in our community. This month there are two events sponsored through this project. 

·         Causes Mini Film Festival at Valdosta State University.  January 23, 2010 from 7-9 pm in the Bio-Chem auditorium at VSU.  Plan to attend and view the short videos.  Our RE children are preparing their own video about homeless animals for this year’s festival.  For the second year the Accepting Difference Project has given a small grant to Dr. Matthew Richards to support this effort to involve students and others in the community in focusing on societal and social justice issues in our community.

·         The Accepting Difference Project will be meeting with Ana Garcia-Ashley from The Gamaliel Foundation when she visits our congregation on January 31. The group  will discuss the possibility of working with The Gamaliel Foundation through a UUA grant to bring leadership training for advocacy and social justice community organizing to our community.  

Break Bread Together

Our date for meal deliveries with the Break Bread Together program is the 2^nd Monday (and 5^th when there is one) of each month.  If you would like to help deliver meals beginning about 11:00 AM, please contact Frank or Rosie Asbury.  

---

 

UU Church of Valdosta Board of Directors

December 2, 2009

Attendance: Doug Tanner, Rosie Asbury, Sue Bailey, Jim Ingram and Kari Wells.

Old Business:  Habitat for Humanity:  Successful event, church will make a contribution similar to last years'.  It was decided to let the building siding go for a little longer and then revisit it in the spring.

New Business: Program's Report:  Fred Howard’s and Michael Stoltzfus' dates are set for most of the upcoming year.  Several suggestions were made for other speakers to fill in the gaps.  A new church directory is being developed.  Discussed a possible fund raiser for the church was discussed.  Board suggested it be tabled until May when we have the congregational meeting.

Next meeting will be Jan 6, 2010 at 6:00PM.

 

            Family time for the holidays!

 

---

Treasurer's Report – Rosie Asbury

November 30, 2009

Receipts                November                                     July -present

  Plate                     $ 184.00                                                $   741.00

  Pledge                  1315.00                                                   7124.00

  Rent                        240.00                                                   1160.00

Total Receipts   $1814.00                                           $  9025.00

Disbursements  

  Speakers’ Fees   $ 200.00                                              $  800.00

  Minister Expense  700.00                                                  3671.15

  Newsletter                  0.00                                                  104.57

 Termite/Pest Cntr   35.00                                                   175.00

  Postage                       0.00                                                 196.40

  Supplies                      0.00                                                    92.11

  Utilities    234.37                                                                1111.81

  UUA Dues              392.00                                               1024.00

  UU Conference         0.00                                                  325.00

  Others                         0.00                                                  127.92

Total  Disbursts$1561.37                                          $  7627.96

Net Receipt       $   252.63                                           $  1397.04

---

UU Activities and Announcements

Dec. 26-Jan. 1- S.W.I.M. (Southeast Winter Institute Miami), Miami, FL

January 14-17- Reconciliation with the Earth, Each Other and the Stranger - Int'l Association for Religious Freedom U.S. Chapter Conference, UUs of Clearwater, FL

January 14-16- OWL Teacher Training, UU Church of Ft. Myers, FL

January 23- President's Roundtable, First Unitarian Church, Orlando, FL

Each year, the District hosts a Roundtable conversation for our Presidents, Vice-Presidents or President-Elects, & one Emerging Leader. The purpose of this meeting is to exchange our best practices and to support each other around shared challenges.  Additionally, our District Staff will guide you to and through a variety of resources to make congregational leadership more rewarding.  The format will include theory and case studies, in addition to the sharing of your wisdom. Challenges Facing Unitarian Universalist Leaders Today Stewardship: How to provide adequate support for our ministries. Leadership Development: How to cultivate a broad sharing of our ministries and congregational service. Worship: How to have more satisfying, inclusive yet focused worship. Generation Gap: How to serve today’s seekers while keeping our current members. Children, Youth & Adult faith development: How to make it work for all. Multi-culturalism: How to speak authentically to a diverse society. Technology: How to make use of emerging communications tools. Growth: How to expand our ministries without painful fights among our members.  Registration (by Jan.18);Cost: $50/congregation for 3 people; additional participants, $10 each. This includes lunch.

February 1- UUA Congregation Certification of Membership Deadline

February 6 Faith Development Workshop Bradenton  

---

  At the Church-in-the-Woods  

New Hope Christian Community Church- Sunday evenings: Choir practice at 4:30 PM. Service at 6:00 PM.  http://internationalchristiancommunity.ning.com  

Tai Chi – Monday and Thursday: Continuing Class: 5:30-7:00 PM; Beginners Class: 7:00-8:00 PM.  Schedule Change!  Beginning January 7 there will be a new class 5:30-.6:30 PM. The Continuing Class will begin meeting 6:30-8:00 PM.  Contact Dennis Bogyo or Luana Goodwin.  

PFLAG Meeting – 4th Tuesday each month, 7:00PM

Contact: Doug Tanner The web page for PFLAG Valdosta:
http://pflag-valdosta.web.officelive.com/default.aspx

ÿ

 

 

UUA TRUSTEE TIDBITS                    Joan Lund              January 2010

After the usual hectic holidays it is time to breathe a sigh of “newness” and hope your congregation will experience and blessed and productive 2010. This will be the second column devoted to the thoughts and words of Rev. Peter Morales, UUA President as expressed at the October Board of Trustees (BOT) meeting. Rev. Morales believes Unitarian Universalism should be far more than “the tiny, fringe religion it is today”. Last month I wrote about growth and what must be done to accomplish this imperative.

                Rev. Morales is passionate about social action and public witness efforts. He knows we have always been a faith who believes that true spirituality is fruitful in our acts of compassion and action to combat oppression and injustice. Although our prideful history indicates our being leaders in the struggle against slavery, rights for women, and the civil rights movement today we need to confront the great moral issues of our time: racism, human rights, immigration, economic justice, and preservation of life on our planet. In addition it is imperative that the forces of ignorance and fear that give rise to “militarism, nativism, and fundamentalism” be faced and resisted. Rev. Morales knows the foundation of “public exposure” built by Rev. Bill Sinkford is a foundation on which we must build.

                Rev. Morales stated we must be relentless, passionate, and articulate as spokespeople for our religious values. This will include leading efforts to help our congregations be moral beacons in our communities. Congregants know what the pressing issues are in their communities. Therefore, there will be a reorganization of staff services to increase our UUA’s “effectiveness in harnessing the compassion and commitment already present in our congregations”. Our UUA will commit to the Green Sanctuary program, whose “administration it has just undertaken, and in other initiatives to be developed in consultation and cooperation with UU Ministry for Earth”.

                In order to create many more opportunities to put our faith into action Rev. Morales’ administration will build on our UUA’s historic continuing opportunity for partnership with the UU Service Committee. This new partnership has already responded together to the Gulf Coast disasters, in Asia, and during the genocide in Darfur. Rev. Morales believes there is much more we can do together.

                I wish your congregation good health and good relationships in 2010. Please know I am available for conversation, and/or speaking at a Sunday service. I am usually a phone call or email (jlund@uua.org) away. Happy New Year one and all.  

---

Carol Stiles sends the following website information:  She says: After Fred Howard’s message recently, here is the website for Kiva, which strives to “connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty.” http://www.kiva.org/about.  Also, here’s the website for Heifer International.  http://www.heifer.org/ 

---

Reconciliation with the Earth, Each Other and the Stranger

A conference sponsored by the U.S. Chapter of the International Association for Religious Freedom and The World Congress of Faiths, Clearwater, Florida, January 14-17, 2010

Please join us in exploring the challenge and complexity of reconciliation in this world of diverse religious beliefs and interfaith encounters.

Guest speakers:

·         Dr. Hal French ~ Preston Emeritus Professor at the University of South Carolina, teaching courses in the Department of Religious Studies and for the Honors College. He serves on the advisory board of the International Center in Oxford, England, the U.S. Chapter of IARF, and on the board of NAIN, the North American Interfaith Network. His latest book is Zen and the Art of Anything.

·         Dr. Paul Rasor ~ Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies and Director of the Study of Religious Freedom at

Virginia Wesleyan College, Norfolk, VA; author of Faith Without Certainty: Liberal Theology In The 21^st Century.

·         Dr. William Schulz ~ Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress in Washington, D.C., former Executive Director of Amnesty International USA; author of In Our Own Best Interest: How Defining Human Rights Benefits All of Us and Tainted Legacy: 9/11 and the Ruin of Human Rights.

Workshop Leaders:

·         Rev. Jopie Boeke from the U.K. and Kathy Matsui from Japan, to present the work of the IALRW, the International Association of Liberal Religious Women .

·         Rev. Eric Cherry, Director of International Resources at the Unitarian Universalist Association .

·         Rev. Peter T. Richardson, author of Archetype of the Spirit, The Four Spiritualities: Expressions of Self, Expression of Spirit.

Experience Circle Groups and Interfaith Worship

---

 

From Friends of Justice

Reflecting on Who are our Neighbors?  As we prepare for the holidays and spending time with our families, let us be mindful that many immigrant families are being separated by detentions and deportations. The UUA is working for reform of our broken immigration system and we expect legislation to be introduced in 2010 that we will be asking you to support.

                In preparation for all out advocacy it's important to know who the immigrants are in our communities. We are encouraging UU congregations to find out more about your neighbors. What are your relationships? Does your congregation offer "welcome to the stranger?" See Welcoming Our Neighbors: A UU Guide to Immigrant Justice for ideas. (Note: to be updated in Jan. with information on new legislation.)

SUCCESS: Stop Stupak Rally: Last week, Unitarian Universalists joined over 1,000 protesters from across the nation to rally and lobby their Members of Congress against the Stupak and Nelson Amendments, which would effectively eliminate abortion coverage in the proposed insurance exchange. Those who could not come to Washington, D.C. made phone calls, signed online petitions and wrote letters to their elected officials asking them not to take away insurance coverage that most women have today. During yesterday's debate on the Senate floor, Senator Barbara Boxer read the names of 13 religious organizations, including the UUA, when she entered our coalition's letter opposing the amendments into the official record. The Nelson Amendment, which was defeated yesterday in a 54-45 vote, will not appear in the Senate health reform bill. Thank you to everyone who has contacted your members of congress so far. We will continue to speak out against the Stupak Amendment, which could still pose a threat to women's reproductive rights if included in the final health care bill. Learn more at http://www.stopstupak.com.

UUs Support Justice in the Tomato Fields: UU congregations in southwest Florida cluster and interfaith allies are working together with Interfaith Action of Southwest Florida to support the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) in stopping slavery and poverty in the tomato fields. Their current action is focused on getting Publix Supermarkets to come to the table to talk about the tomatoes they buy.

See Rev. Allison Farnum, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Church in Ft. Myers, FL, report on the Dec 6 CIW Walk for Farmworker Justice, Dignidad: Standing on the Side of Farmworkers! on the Standing on the Side of Love blog. As Rev. Farnum points out this work is part of our association's commitment to study and act upon ethical eating and to stand on the side of love.

SSL Grants for Congregations - Apply Now! The Fund for UU Social Responsibility has set aside $25,000 to be made available as matching grants of $500-$1,500 to UU congregations participating in the Standing on the Side of Love campaign. SSL matching grants will support UU congregations mobilizing at critical times, using social networking and coalition building to take action in a broad range of arenas where people are excluded, oppressed, or attacked based on real or perceived identities.

To apply, complete an SSL Application (PDF) (Word) and send to love@uua.org. Applications are an EZ form and are distributed on a rolling basis (about a two week turn around time).

SSL Web-Cast Calls: in 2010 - Organizing for Feb 14th

The Standing on the Side of Love campaign has a new schedule for 2010 that we will post monthly. In January, join SSL staff and congregational leaders to learn about how your congregation can participate in National Standing on the Side of Love Day, Feb 14th, where we re-imagine Valentine's Day.

                On this day, congregations across the nation will participate in a day of worship and practice acts of love. National Standing on the Side of Love Day empowers each congregation to take action on issues that matter locally, and to pursue strategies that are effective and meaningful to them.

 

ÿ